National Register of Historic Places

Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel

Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
Listed
July 6, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83002438

About this property

The German American Heritage Center, also known as the Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel, is a cultural center and museum in Davenport, Iowa, United States, that chronicles and preserves the history of German-Americans in the Midwest region. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The German American Heritage Center was incorporated in 1994, and the board of directors purchased the Standard Hotel on the Davenport riverfront in 1993. The building was built by John Brus and opened in 1862 as the Germania House, a gasthaus (guest house), for immigrants. In 1876 it was bought by John Frederick Miller and renamed the Miller Hotel. He was a German immigrant who had been a manufacturer in the city since the 1850s. Miller also operated the restaurant, billiard room and saloon in the hotel until 1889. The hotel was used at this time by Scott County farmers when they came to Davenport. The hotel's name was changed several times in the 20th-century. It became the Arcade Hotel around 1906, the Henry Blessing Boarding House around 1917, and the Standard Hotel from 1924 to 1995. The retail space on the main floor was occupied by various tenants over the years. In 1983, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1996. In 2009, extensive renovations to the center were completed with enhanced multimedia and exhibit spaces. The building is a fine example of high Victorian commercial architecture in Davenport. Of particular merit is the metal cornice that was apparently added by John Miller, whose name appears on it. The original storefronts had been removed and were restored in the 2009 renovation. The easternmost bay, where the hotel's main entrance was located, is more decorative than the other six and is below the cornice arch. Transportation Enhancements Image Library Images from the Restoration of the German American Heritage Center

Location

712 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, Scott County, Iowa
41.52164, -90.58368

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Battles

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Questions about this property

When was Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel listed on the National Register?

Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel?

Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel?

The period of significance for Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel?

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